CHAPTER 1. Preparation for Canvass [15000. - 15007.]

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC 1.

in effect

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 15000. Section 15000.

No later than seven days prior to any election conducted pursuant to this code, the elections official shall conduct a test or series of tests to ensure that every device used to tabulate ballots accurately records each vote. The exact methods employed in this test shall conform to the voting procedures for the specific voting systems, as adopted by the Secretary of State.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 15001. Section 15001.

(a) A copy of each election computer vote count program for a statewide election or state special election to fill vacancies shall be deposited with the Secretary of State. The copy of the election computer vote count program shall be received by the Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. on the seventh day before the election. (b) If the election computer vote count program is modified or altered after the submission specified in subdivision (a), the elections official immediately shall deposit the subsequent program no later than 12 p.m. on the day of the election. (c) The Secretary of State shall hold the deposited programs for a period of not less than six months, at which time the program shall be returned to the elections official. (1) The elections official shall preserve the returned program for a period of 16 months. (2) The programs deposited in accordance with this section shall be used only for a recanvass of the vote, an official recount, court action, or for logic and accuracy tests required by the Secretary of State. (3) Any tape, diskette, cartridge, or other magnetic or electronic storage medium containing the vote count program submitted pursuant to this section shall be maintained by the Secretary of State in a secure location when not in use for an official purpose specified in paragraph (2). (d) The Secretary of State may, by mandamus or other appropriate proceeding, require and compel the county elections officials to submit the computer vote count program specified in subdivision (a). Venue for a proceeding under this section shall be exclusively in Sacramento County.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 15002. Section 15002.

No later than January 1 of each even-numbered year, the Secretary of State shall review, and if necessary amend, administrative procedures for use with each of the voting systems pursuant to Division 19.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 15003. Section 15003.

Elections officials shall adopt semifinal official and official canvass procedures to conform to the applicable voting system procedures that have been approved by the Secretary of State. These procedures shall be available for public inspection no later than 29 days before each election.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 15004. Section 15004.

(a) Each qualified political party may employ, and may have present at the central counting place or places, not more than two representatives to check and review the preparation and operation of the tabulating devices, their programming and testing, and have the representatives in attendance at any or all phases of the election. (b) Any bona fide association of citizens or a media organization may employ, and may have present at the central counting place or places, not more than two representatives to check and review the preparation and operation of the tabulating devices, their programming and testing, and have the representatives in attendance at any or all phases of the election. (c) The county elections official may limit the total number of representatives employed pursuant to subdivision (b) in attendance to no more than 10 by a manner in which each interested bona fide association of citizens or media organization has an equal opportunity to participate. Any representatives employed and in attendance pursuant to subdivision (a) shall not be subject to the limit specified in this subdivision.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 15006. Section 15006.

(a) (1) The Attorney General shall provide guidance and information to county elections officials regarding how elections officials, precinct boards, election workers, and election volunteers should respond to requests by an agent of a law enforcement agency to access areas where ballots are cast, handled, processed, counted, tabulated, tallied, audited, or recounted. (2) The Attorney General shall publish and provide guidance to managers of election sites regarding how to respond to requests by an agent of a law enforcement agency to access areas where ballots are cast, handled, processed, counted, tabulated, tallied, audited, or recounted. (b) The guidance and information provided pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be developed in consultation with the Secretary of State, be consistent with federal and state law, and aim to ensure that all voting locations remain safe and accessible to all voters. (c) For the purposes of this section, “law enforcement agency” means all of the following: (1) Any law enforcement agency, department, or other entity of the state or any political subdivision thereof, that employs any peace officer described in Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code. (2) Any law enforcement agency of another state. (3) Any federal law enforcement agency.

Cal. Elections Code - ELEC § 15007. Section 15007.

(a) A peace officer shall not interfere in any manner with the administration of any election in this state and in the discharge of duties by the Secretary of State, a county elections official, an election worker, or a volunteer performing required elections-related tasks prescribed by this code or any other provision of state law except as necessary to respond to urgent threats to public health and safety. (b) The following persons may bring a civil action to enforce the provisions of this section: (1) The Attorney General. (2) The Secretary of State. (3) A county elections official with respect to violations that occur within the elections official’s county. (c) A court shall expedite the scheduling and disposition of a civil action brought pursuant to this section if the action is filed during the period beginning thirty days before election day and ending with the completion of the canvass. (d) The provisions of this section shall not prevent a qualified elector from exercising their right to vote in an election in this state and shall not be construed to authorize an action that would be prohibited by federal law or to limit any federal authority that is validly exercised pursuant to federal law.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026